Thursday, March 30, 2017

I was asked this week what my goal with tracking my DNA
matches. My first thought was how I have been distracted by all the BSO’s that
have taken me away from my goal.

My main goal with tracking my DNA matches was to uncover who
my biological maternal grandfather was. I have been very blessed or lucky or
whatever to figure out that mystery once I had the correct people to finally do
their DNA test. For me it was basically a waiting game.

So while I waited I decided to take the advice of many in
the DNA field (advice I read), that we need to concentrate on our closer
matches. I also decided to concentrate on matches with only one of the three
companies that I tested with and I used AncestryDNA. Basically because it was
simple to use yet they finally introduced the “Shared Matches” which allowed me
to some basic triangulation.

Therefore a secondary goal of tracking my DNA matches is to
figure out how my 4th cousins and closer matches are related to
me. Currently I have 188 4th
cousins or closer plus 34 shared ancestor hints. When I started my journey, I had 16 shared ancestor hints and 134 4th cousins or closer.

However, I started with the BSO of my ancestor hints. I
reviewed each shared ancestor hint and inputted each match into my genealogy
software program with their direct line from our shared ancestor back down to
them. I entered a simple note in AncestryDNA that listed our shared ancestor
and what our actual relationship was.

It was really difficult not to look into the Shared Matches
of my ancestor hints (another BSO), however I needed to finish this task first.
I knew the shared ancestor hints will mean so much more with the notes from all
my ancestor hints.

Only after I had completed my shared ancestor hints did I go
back into those hints and start to follow the Shared Matches. I would input
more matches into my genealogy software program with their direct line from our
newly discovered shared ancestor back down to them. Sometimes I had to do
additional research on their line to take it further back until I found how
they fit into my tree. While doing this additional research, BSO start to pop
up or I get frustrated or bored researching their tree and go wandering from my real goal. However, I eventually found my way back and would do more with my AncestryDNA
matches. I still haven’t made it through all those 4th cousins or
closer matches and new close matches appear over time. This may seems like a
never ending project, but isn’t genealogy in general a never ending project. Truly,
will we ever finish?

Anyway, it was while researching some of those 4th
cousins or closer matches that I found some common ancestors among them that
lead me to a couple that I speculated might be my maternal grandfather’s
ancestors. I did research of this couple’s descendants that lead me to find
more matches both distant and 4th cousin and closer. It was through
this research that helped me uncover my biological maternal grandfather when
those two correct people finally did their DNA test.

The moral of this story, BSO objects will always be around
catching our eye while we are doing our research. Even if the project feels
overwhelming, by attacking the project in bits and pieces will finally allow
you to get through the project or at least reap some benefits of all the work
you have already put into it. I am grateful that I didn’t look at the scope of
the project and throw my hands up in disgust and quit. When I started over a year ago, I had one 2nd cousin match (who was adopted) and two 3rd cousins matches and starting with 4th cousins was not ideal, but I had to start somewhere.

Like I said, I am still slowing going through all those 4th
cousins and closer matches and my new BSO is another common ancestor of
many of my matches. I am going to start researching this family. Many of my
matches are related to Squire Boone, who happens to be Daniel Boone’s father or
to Squire’s father George Boone. Therefore, I have started the major research
project of researching this family and perhaps I will be able to figure out how
my matches fit into this family and eventually how I might fit into this
family. My working theory is perhaps one of my female end-of-lines where I don’t
know her maiden name might come from this huge family. I have discovered that
there were much intermarriages within the descendants of the Boone family and
thus might be why the DNA is still so strong considering how far removed George
and his son Squire are from my generation.

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About Me

I became interested in genealogy as a teenager but waited until I was 20 before I started my research efforts. I have four children and one grandchild. I am researching my family, my husband's family and my half-siblings family.

Besides Genealogy, I enjoy reading, traveling, family, history and games.